National Forum

Non-Gaa Forum

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Gleebo:  "Anyone think that the unusual timing of the World Cup this year might impact upon the stronger teams more? I imagine that several weeks plying out in the heat and humidity of Qatar might take its toll. I stopped over there a few years back to catch a connecting flight and the opening of the plane door alone was like the blast of an oven door, LOL.

Maybe United's general sh***ness in recent seasons might be advantageous, in that they'll probably have less players represented at the World Cup than the teams around them, leaving them fresher in the second half of the season.

I know it probably won't be the most popular opinion on a GAA site, but a lot of pro soccer players have been more or less playing through the last two years and are probably knackered at this stage. And yes, they get paid astronomical sums of money to do so, but you only have one body at the end of the day."
Liverpool will benefit from the likes of Salah, Diaz, Robertson, and Keita getting 5 weeks off.

Rebel2020 (Cork) - Posts: 75 - 05/08/2022 14:00:31    2436339

Link

Replying To Galway9801:  "Klopps high octane training style combined with last year's efforts, where Liverpool played every conceivable game bar the charity shield, might take its toll, and they could have a dip towards the end of the season.
They're so far ahead that I'd still see them finishing second tho, with city first.
Spurs might have a good year.
I think arsenal are flattering to deceive, and I've no hope for Chelsea or utd to win either of the two big ones,, though the blues might finish top 4, should be an interesting one, the fight for top 4.
Think Everton will get relegated."
The fight for 4th place in the GAA league tables next spring would be interesting too, if there was something really serious riding on it, but there never is.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 05/08/2022 14:08:51    2436340

Link

Replying To Saynothing:  "Not a big soccer fan but I would put loads of teams above UTD if Harry Maguire is on."
Definitely on last season's United form. Has been very good before though. Not like United have great centre backs but no player should be guaranteed starts based on their reputation if their form is poor.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7337 - 05/08/2022 15:40:48    2436349

Link

Replying To Bon:  "Is Mason Greenwood still out of the picture indefinitely or what's the update there?"
He's still on bail.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2448 - 05/08/2022 16:37:49    2436357

Link

Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "The fight for 4th place in the GAA league tables next spring would be interesting too, if there was something really serious riding on it, but there never is."
Finishing 4th in a 20 team league is a fight and an achievement; finishing 4th in a 5 team league is not.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2448 - 06/08/2022 09:46:07    2436387

Link

Replying To GreenandRed:  "Definitely on last season's United form. Has been very good before though. Not like United have great centre backs but no player should be guaranteed starts based on their reputation if their form is poor."
"no player should be guaranteed starts based on their reputation if their form is poor".

Gareth Southgate begs to differ.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2448 - 06/08/2022 11:33:08    2436407

Link

Replying To Rebel2020:  "Liverpool will benefit from the likes of Salah, Diaz, Robertson, and Keita getting 5 weeks off."
Fair point, well made. I'm guessing that Kelleher also might get a bit of a run while Alisson is away on national duty.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 07/08/2022 11:52:05    2436516

Link

On today's showing TenHag has a big job on his hands…. He could end up been known as Ten months instead of TenHag…

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1908 - 07/08/2022 16:50:42    2436550

Link

Replying To Cockney_Cat:  ""no player should be guaranteed starts based on their reputation if their form is poor".

Gareth Southgate begs to differ."
Fair point well made CC. I think his England form has been better than United form. I don't like seeing, mostly online opinion, that the thing to do in club football is to sell the off form player, a replacement will fix the problem. Whatever happened to coaches that will realise a player still has potential, not doing great now, but work with the player to improve them? Shaw was poor for Mourinho but improved under Solskjaer.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7337 - 07/08/2022 17:00:18    2436552

Link

Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "On today's showing TenHag has a big job on his hands…. He could end up been known as Ten months instead of TenHag…"
I think that was well known before today of the task on his hands. One of the worse run biggest clubs in the world. Dalot,Shaw,Rashford,Fred,McTominay how many of those players would even make the Chelsea,Man City or Liverpool bench? is there a worse captain in the league than Harry Maguire? trying to play the high line defence with him was funny and it even made Danny Welbeck look like a top quality player today.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3338 - 07/08/2022 18:29:31    2436561

Link

You could have a Pep-Klopp double managerial ticket at Utd these days and they'd still be poor. Too many players there just aren't the level they expect at Old Trafford despite having ample opportunity to prove otherwise.

De Gea, Maguire, Dalot, Fred, McTominay, Martial, Rashford, Jones, Bailly, Lindeloff....easier said than done shipping them out though.

Are the likes of Ronaldo, Eriksen, Varane really going to turn things around at this late stage of their careers? And apparently the latest brainwave is to bring in a 33 year old Marko Arnautovic? Jesus...

Any sort of properly coached team plays around the Utd midfield with ease. I honestly think at this current rate they have a job on their hands staying in the top 6.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 08/08/2022 10:53:37    2436616

Link

Great performances at the Commonwealth Games by NI boxers and also by Ciara Mageean and Kate O'Connor in athletics. There is a lot more to sport than GAA and Soccer. These boxers and athletes all represent Ireland in international competition but the media here completely ignored their success at the Commonwealth Games.

crafty (Galway) - Posts: 249 - 08/08/2022 14:19:35    2436667

Link

Replying To crafty:  "Great performances at the Commonwealth Games by NI boxers and also by Ciara Mageean and Kate O'Connor in athletics. There is a lot more to sport than GAA and Soccer. These boxers and athletes all represent Ireland in international competition but the media here completely ignored their success at the Commonwealth Games."
"These boxers and athletes all represent Ireland in international competition"

They are not representing Ireland. They are representing the country of Northern Ireland (see the BBC medals table). Their flag used for medal ceremonies is the Ulster Banner, which has a crown to represent the monarchy of the United Kingdom. It also has a six-pointed star, representing the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.

The Commonwealth Games are an anachronism, they were originally called the British Empire Games. Hardly anyone wants to, or can afford to hold them. The British have held 4 of the last 10 games, and are reluctant to give them up, even though they cost the tax payer millions. They are pointless waste of time and money. No one I know over here has any interest in them. It's the British clinging on to the long gone empire.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2448 - 08/08/2022 15:24:33    2436676

Link

Replying To Lockjaw:  "You could have a Pep-Klopp double managerial ticket at Utd these days and they'd still be poor. Too many players there just aren't the level they expect at Old Trafford despite having ample opportunity to prove otherwise.

De Gea, Maguire, Dalot, Fred, McTominay, Martial, Rashford, Jones, Bailly, Lindeloff....easier said than done shipping them out though.

Are the likes of Ronaldo, Eriksen, Varane really going to turn things around at this late stage of their careers? And apparently the latest brainwave is to bring in a 33 year old Marko Arnautovic? Jesus...

Any sort of properly coached team plays around the Utd midfield with ease. I honestly think at this current rate they have a job on their hands staying in the top 6."
United will struggle to finish 6th this season. Both Klopp and Pep got off to slow starts then rebuilt their teams with a number of top quality signings, both clubs had shrewd people over the transfer business Liverpool for example Michael Edwards who's been as important to them as Klopp. Man United in comparison are relying on clueless people to make transfers, recruitment has been awful and managers are left with duds and squads filled with dead wood players past their best or who will never be good enough.

Yondu (UK) - Posts: 845 - 08/08/2022 16:01:31    2436688

Link

Replying To Cockney_Cat:  ""These boxers and athletes all represent Ireland in international competition"

They are not representing Ireland. They are representing the country of Northern Ireland (see the BBC medals table). Their flag used for medal ceremonies is the Ulster Banner, which has a crown to represent the monarchy of the United Kingdom. It also has a six-pointed star, representing the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.

The Commonwealth Games are an anachronism, they were originally called the British Empire Games. Hardly anyone wants to, or can afford to hold them. The British have held 4 of the last 10 games, and are reluctant to give them up, even though they cost the tax payer millions. They are pointless waste of time and money. No one I know over here has any interest in them. It's the British clinging on to the long gone empire."
The same boxers also fight to represent Ireland at the world championships and the Olympics.....

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 08/08/2022 16:09:13    2436689

Link

Replying To Cockney_Cat:  ""These boxers and athletes all represent Ireland in international competition"

They are not representing Ireland. They are representing the country of Northern Ireland (see the BBC medals table). Their flag used for medal ceremonies is the Ulster Banner, which has a crown to represent the monarchy of the United Kingdom. It also has a six-pointed star, representing the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.

The Commonwealth Games are an anachronism, they were originally called the British Empire Games. Hardly anyone wants to, or can afford to hold them. The British have held 4 of the last 10 games, and are reluctant to give them up, even though they cost the tax payer millions. They are pointless waste of time and money. No one I know over here has any interest in them. It's the British clinging on to the long gone empire."
I know they represent NI in the commonwealth games but all the boxers and the 2 athletes I mentioned represent Ireland in other competitions. I would say most of them see themselves as 100% Irish. Ciara Mageean for example is a very good camogie player.Protestant boxers have stood under the tricolour while representing Ireland in international competitions. I think that Kate O Connor and one of the female boxers are from Dundalk. Ireland is a complicated place and we need to start looking beyond politics and religion and be magnanimous. Wouldn't it be great if we were involved. It might bring people together. At the recent World Athletics Championships in the US the British gave great coverage to the Irish athletes and always have done. These games were a huge success and there are lots of people over here interested in them. I'm sure you follow English soccer?

crafty (Galway) - Posts: 249 - 08/08/2022 16:46:57    2436697

Link

Replying To crafty:  "I know they represent NI in the commonwealth games but all the boxers and the 2 athletes I mentioned represent Ireland in other competitions. I would say most of them see themselves as 100% Irish. Ciara Mageean for example is a very good camogie player.Protestant boxers have stood under the tricolour while representing Ireland in international competitions. I think that Kate O Connor and one of the female boxers are from Dundalk. Ireland is a complicated place and we need to start looking beyond politics and religion and be magnanimous. Wouldn't it be great if we were involved. It might bring people together. At the recent World Athletics Championships in the US the British gave great coverage to the Irish athletes and always have done. These games were a huge success and there are lots of people over here interested in them. I'm sure you follow English soccer?"
Why are you telling me all this? It has nothing to do with what I said.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2448 - 08/08/2022 20:04:13    2436723

Link

Replying To crafty:  "I know they represent NI in the commonwealth games but all the boxers and the 2 athletes I mentioned represent Ireland in other competitions. I would say most of them see themselves as 100% Irish. Ciara Mageean for example is a very good camogie player.Protestant boxers have stood under the tricolour while representing Ireland in international competitions. I think that Kate O Connor and one of the female boxers are from Dundalk. Ireland is a complicated place and we need to start looking beyond politics and religion and be magnanimous. Wouldn't it be great if we were involved. It might bring people together. At the recent World Athletics Championships in the US the British gave great coverage to the Irish athletes and always have done. These games were a huge success and there are lots of people over here interested in them. I'm sure you follow English soccer?"
Amy Broadhurst is the boxer from Dundalk.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 08/08/2022 20:44:06    2436728

Link

Replying To SaffronDon:  "The same boxers also fight to represent Ireland at the world championships and the Olympics....."
I know that, but what has it got to do with what I said?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2448 - 08/08/2022 20:46:29    2436729

Link

Replying To Yondu:  "United will struggle to finish 6th this season. Both Klopp and Pep got off to slow starts then rebuilt their teams with a number of top quality signings, both clubs had shrewd people over the transfer business Liverpool for example Michael Edwards who's been as important to them as Klopp. Man United in comparison are relying on clueless people to make transfers, recruitment has been awful and managers are left with duds and squads filled with dead wood players past their best or who will never be good enough."
Yeah it has been an utter shambles. Now the plan seems to be to sign two lads who have a history of indiscipline - Rabiot & Arnautovic. Crazy stuff.

They would probably need to spend about 500m to overhaul the squad but it isn't as easy as that what with FFP rules. Although when you see the way Barcelona are completely taking the **** with their transfer strategy you'd wonder if these rules actually work at all.

Players who I think Utd could realistically get who would be a big improvement on what they have....

Jude Bellingham
Declan Rice
James Madisson
Leandro Trossard
Pau Torres
Marc Guehi
Wesley Fofana
Conor Gallagher
Federico Chiesa
Alessandro Bastoni

They would need a goalkeeper who is good with his feet too. De Gea is a great stopper but is very suspect under a high ball and he is very awkward in possession.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 09/08/2022 11:10:08    2436770

Link